harried

adjective

har·​ried ˈher-ēd How to pronounce harried (audio)
ˈha-rēd
Synonyms of harriednext
: beset by problems : harassed
a harried waiter who forgets your order

Examples of harried in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
As the harried solo parent of a sick child, Byrne lets the camera zoom in so close to her character’s insecurities that the audience breaks out in a cold sweat. Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2026 In Network, as a harried TV executive, Duvall is similarly roaring, spitting some great Paddy Chayefsky soliloquies with relish. David Sims, The Atlantic, 16 Feb. 2026 O’Hara found her highest-profile role in Home Alone (1990), as a harried suburban mom who accidentally abandons her 8-year-old son. The Week Us, TheWeek, 10 Feb. 2026 Playing the harried mother of Macauley Culkin’s scheming son Kevin, O’Hara became a generation of moviegoers’ ideal image of a loving, concerned matriarch. Tim Grierson, Rolling Stone, 30 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for harried

Word History

Etymology

from past participle of harry

First Known Use

1609, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of harried was in 1609

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Cite this Entry

“Harried.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/harried. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.

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